Fund for Lake Michigan Awards Grant for Phosphorus Reduction Efforts in Grafton

GRAFTON – The Fund for Lake Michigan has awarded a grant to the Sand County Foundation to assist the Village of Grafton with water quality improvement.

The $100,000 grant supports Sand County Foundation’s outreach to farmers to implement conservation practices that will limit the amount of phosphorus entering local waterways. 

The Village of Grafton is located in Ozaukee County within the Milwaukee River watershed.

The grant supports Sand County Foundation’s two-year commitment to Grafton's water quality project. 

Sand County Foundation, a national non-profit that works at the intersection of agriculture and environmental improvement, will support the Village of Grafton to reduce nutrient and sediment losses from farms upstream as a cost-effective means to improve water quality and meet village wastewater discharge permit requirements.

To date, the Fund for Lake Michigan has awarded 352 grants totaling $23 million to non-profit organizations and local government agencies, who partner with the private sector on water quality improvement projects than promise broad social, economic and environmental returns.

Launched in 2011, the Fund for Lake Michigan supports investments throughout the Lake Michigan watershed that improve water quality, create jobs, raise real estate values, revive communities, clean waterfronts, support habitats and drive tourism. 

Sand County Foundation tests and demonstrates conservation practices with farmers, ranchers, foresters and businesses. These efforts produce clean water, healthy soil, abundant wildlife habitat and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

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Fund for Lake Michigan is a private foundation based in Milwaukee. It was established in 2011 as part of an agreement between We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to safeguard the lake and improve water quality in the region. The Fund supports efforts, particularly in southeast Wisconsin, that enhance the health of Lake Michigan and its shoreline and tributary river systems for the benefit of the people and communities that depend upon the system for water, recreation and commerce.

Sand County Foundation is the nation’s leading voice for private conservation. Based in Madison, the non-profit organization is dedicated to working with private landowners to advance the use of ethical and scientifically sound land management practices that benefit the environment.